White to move and checkmate in 5. Have fun!
8/7p/p4K1k/P7/8/8/1B4P1/8 w – – 0 1
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g4 should win.
1. Kf5 Kh5 2. Bf6 Kh6 (2. … h6?3. g4#) 3. g3 Kh5 4. Bg5 h6 5. g4#.
1. Kf5. 2. Bf6 3. g3 4. Bg5 5. g4#.
Kf5….
A final position could be white Kf5, Bg5 and g4 mating a black Kh5. In this case, we’d also have to delay black’s h7-h6, because it is the necessary last move before this mate. This in mind, we check which path the bishop has to take, and how many steps it is for the pawn, not to stalemate. So, while 1.g4 draws immediately, 1.g3 would allow an early h7-h6. Same with 1.Bc1+. So it would have to be 1.Kf5 Kh5. 2.Bc1 would allow h7-h6 – while 2.Bf6 disallows it, yey ! 2. .. Kh6. 3.g4 stalemates .. while 3.g3 sets the stage for the imprisonment we had seen in our dreams
1.Kf5 Kh5,2.Bf6 Kh6,3.g3 Kh5,4.Bg5 h6, 5.g4#.
g4 runs into stale
g4 runs into stale
g4 runs into stale
If g4 then you draw by stalemate.
1.g4?? Black stalemated.
1/2-1/2
First, anonymous, g4 does anything but win. It stalemates!
So one has to effectively utilize this g4 theme but such that the bishop can prevent h4 and also the pawn at h7 can move and therefore white will prevent the stalemate.
The moves then become obvious.
1. Kf5 (clearing f6 for the bishop; and forcing Kh5 so h pawn can now move) Kh5
2. Bf6! (the key move) now
a. 2.…h6, 3. g4# OR
b. 2.…Kh6 3. g3 (beginning the avoid stalemate dance so when K is on h5, then White can mate) Kh5
Now the Bishop blocks both h6 and h4 with g5.
4. Bg5! forcing 4.…h6
and now the mate with the pawn
5. g4 #. A pretty dance.
psyche
(repeat submission)
1. g3 Kh5 2. Kf5 Kh6 3. Bf6 Kh5 4. Bg5 h6 5. g4#
1. Kf5 Kh5
2. Bf6 Kh6
3. g3 Kh5
4. Bg5 h6
5. g4#
Most of the moves are forced.
1.Kf5 Kh5 (forced)
2.Bf6 Kh6
(2…h6 3.g4#)
3.g3 Kh5
4.Bg5 h6
5.g4#
Without pawn a6 and a5, full ref:
NN, The Chess Player’s Chronicle, 1841, #5
Pawns a6 and a5 are totally useless in this setting.
1. Kf4 Kh4
2. Bf5 Kh5（Kh3 leads to g4#)
3. g3 Kh4
4. Bg5 h6
5. g4#
A king move, a couple each of bishop and pawn moves – easy.
But, what difference do the pawns on the a file make – that’s the hard one!
1. Kf5 Kh5 2. Bf6 Kh6 3. g3 Kf5 4. Bg5 h6 5. g4#
1Kf5 Kh5
2Bf6 Kh6
(2… h6 3g4#)
3g3 Kh5
4Bg5 h6
5g4#
1.Kf5 Kh5 2.Bf6 Kh6 (2…h6 3.g4++) 3.g3 Kh5 4.Bg5 h6 5. g4++